Glasgow is truly a City o’ Pairts1. It’s a city of industry; of innovation; of architectural wonders; of artistic genius; of deprivation and enormous wealth; of hard graft and socialising; of world changing academic insights; of cultural and racial variety. It has a sense of energy it’s hard to define. Exploring Glasgow’s architecture tells its […]
For many of our guests our welcome pack is a highlight of their stay. Featuring the best of Scottish produce, the bread is still warm from the oven when they arrive, provoking happy exclamations and requests for the recipe. The home made raspberry jam is also a hit; many consider it ‘the best we’ve ever […]
There’s a walk not far from the cottage which has to be among the best in the world. Park your car at Milarrochy Bay, or take the bus from Drymen to Balmaha. Spend a magical few hours following a section of the West Highland Way which clings to the east shore of Loch Lomond, sometimes […]
For reasons which will become obvious, there are few words in this post. Some days are just made to be magical. This one, May 10th 2024, began as one of those days that only happen at this time of year – clear blue sky, warm sun, a blue poppy in the garden and the beginning […]
Every two months Ballat Smithy comes alive with sounds which would have been a daily occurrence until about the 1950s: the ancient sound of the hammer on the anvil, the roar of the forge and the hiss of red hot steel being quenched in cold water. The difference now is that the old smithy workshops […]
One of the benefits of winter here in Scotland is that there’s no need to get up early to witness a spectacular sunrise. Ballat Smithy Cottage faces due south, overlooking the Campsie Fells, and at this time of year the sun doesn’t peek over the top of the escarpment until just before 9am. It stays […]
When the sun shines in autumn it creates pure magic through its alchemy with the leaves. If spring and summer are for celebrating the green, autumn is a time of wonder and awe as the trees explode like fireworks into red, yellow, orange, brown and gold. Ballat Smithy Cottage near Loch Lomond has had a […]
May and June are the months of celebration. The celebration of a winter survived, of the promise of summer ahead, and above all a celebration of the return of the green to the landscape. Here at Ballat Smithy Cottage on the edge of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, the green surrounds us. The […]
Scotland is blessed with a wealth of historic buildings, from majestic castles to grand country homes, but for me some of the most interesting are the ones which offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of our forebears. The National Trust for Scotland is well aware of the importance of preserving these places; the Tenement […]
When there are dozens of self catering holiday cottages near Loch Lomond to choose from, what makes Ballat Smithy Cottage one of the best? For 20 years the cottage has welcomed visitors from all over the world, and their comments reflect the pleasure they’ve found in having a place to stay which feels like home. […]
